Useful Technology to Help You Stay Independent

Suggestions from the Senior Care Team at Home Instead

Technology has come a long way from the old cell phones that rivaled bricks with antennas. Today’s smartphones keep you in touch with family, pay bills, check your bank balance, and let you catch up on your favourite television show while still fitting in your pocket. Not every generation is up to speed with the pace of technology and electronic gadgets. For many seniors, smartphones, smart home devices, and smart televisions can be overwhelming. It can be hard to see how technology and senior care can work together. The good news is that they can! The better news is that companies realize this and are stepping up to help families and the elderly.

Live independently at home by adopting new technologies and getting the help of a caregiving team like you will find at Home Instead Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. We offer a variety of levels of assistance to help you or your loved ones take charge of these Golden Years. Look to us for companionship services, personal care, meals, and household duties.

3 Helpful Segments of Technology to Aid Your Senior Care

You have blazed new trails over the decades. You’ve seen the first man walk on the moon and witnessed the travesty of Vietnam. Instead of shunning the unknown, embrace it so that you can stay put in your home for many years to come. At Home Instead, we want to assist you in any way we can.

Here are 3 areas of technology that can get you closer to your goal of aging in place:

• Medication Reminders: As you or your loved one age, you could be facing a litany of prescriptions to take and keep track of. The requirements for each drug differ, for example, taking a pill on an empty stomach versus with a meal. Digital pill dispensers keep Mom or Dad on track. These devices are filled with the appropriate meds and then scheduled to unlock when it is time to be taken. Some examples include MedMinder and Reminder Rosie.
• S.O.S. Safety Devices: It is not always possible to be with a loved one 24/7 without some help. You can choose the help of a professional caregiver. If that is not necessary yet, and you are home alone for even brief periods, a personal emergency response systems (PERS) help button may be the next best choice. This device can be worn around your neck like a necklace or on your wrist. A few examples are Life Alert, Life Assure, BeClose, and Lifeline Medical Alert.
• Security and Monitoring Systems: On top of immediate personal safety, remembering to turn off the lights can be a challenge at any age. If you or your elderly parent needs a little extra help, a smart digital assistant like Amazon’s Echo, Google Home, or Samsung SmartThings hub may help. These devices sync with sensors to control lights and appliances and even notify loved ones of your daily activities.

Live Safe and Independent with Support from Home Instead

Take advantage of technology to keep yourself or an aging family member as independent as possible. When you seek additional support from the team at Home Instead, our highly trained staff and PSWs give you the extra boost of confidence you need to succeed. Keep your elderly parent or family member at home with a variety of home care services and resources we provide.